GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - According to Severe Weather and Information Centre SA (Swaicsa), it will be cool to cold today, Thursday 1 May. 

The wintry chill can be felt over the western, southern and central parts of the country (very cold over the southern parts of the Northern Cape), but it is warm to hot over the eastern parts of South Africa.

According to Snow Report, very light snowfall is possible from Thursday for South Africa and Lesotho. The snowfall is mainly in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape high ground.

It will be cool to cold over most parts of South Africa on Friday, except in the far north-eastern parts. 

You can expect cold to very cold weather over the southern parts of the Northern Cape, northeastern parts of the Western Cape, southern parts of the Free State, interior of the Eastern Cape and south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape. 

Isolated to scattered frost can develop over the southern and south-eastern interior of SA Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.  

Swaicsa offer the following strategies during cold weather conditions:

When temperatures plunge below zero, livestock producers need to give extra attention to their animals. Prevention is the key to dealing with hypothermia, and other cold weather injuries in livestock.

What to do when cold conditions are forecast:

• Protecting livestock from cold weather
• Please take extra care to provide for your pets and livestock during cold periods.
• Management of the cow's environment- move all livestock to the safe area. e.g. warm place’,
• It is very important that livestock be provided extra hay/forage/feed as up to double the calories for normal body heat maintenance may be needed in extreme cold.
• Do not shear the Angora goat. Also, take extra time to observe livestock, looking for early signs of disease and injury.
• Severe cold-weather injuries or death primarily occur in the very young or in animals that are already debilitated. Cases of cold weather-related sudden death in calves often result when cattle are suffering from undetected infection, particularly pneumonia. Sudden, unexplained livestock deaths and illnesses should be investigated quickly so that a cause can be identified and steps can be taken to protect remaining animals.
• Special attention should be paid to very young and old animals.  They may be less able to tolerate temperature extremes and have weaker immune systems.

Protecting plants from cold weather:

• Protect plants by  Covering – paper, cloth – over framework around tree, mulching
• Wrapping trunks of frost sensitive trees eg. citrus
• Watering during cold stages (irrigate drop with frost/apply just a trickle at base of tree)
• Increase air circulation

Concerns and recommendations:

• Our animals, especially indoor/outdoor pets, probably do not have an adequate cold coat for protection in these very low temperatures.
• Hypothermia and dehydration are the two most probable life-threatening conditions for animals in cold weather, wet conditions and wind-chill add greatly to the cold-stress for animals.
• Livestock should be provided with wind-break and roof shelter, and monitored for signs of discomfort (extensive shivering, weakness, lethargy, etc.)
• It is critical that animals have access to drinking water. Usual water sources may freeze solid in low temperatures and dehydration becomes a life-threatening factor.  Many of our animals, especially the young, may not know how or be unable to break several inches of ice to reach water. In general, animals tend to drink less in extreme cold, risking dehydration.
• Adding a warm sloppy bran mash, sloppy moistened beet pulp or soaking pelleted feed in warm water is a good way to add water to your horses; diet and provide some comfort food; in the cold weather.
• Select frost tolerant plants over frost prone areas
• Place cold sensitive plants in protected locations Western, northern exposures, full sun or lock walls.
• Do not prune cold-damaged plants until they begin growing in spring.

Information as received from, and shared with credit to, the Department Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

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